INVERNESS — Merriam-Webster defines blight as something that spoils the appearance or completeness of a thing.
Urban blight is an area in a “damaged or worsened condition,” according to the dictionary.
Then there is the Inverness City Council’s definition of blight, as spelled out in a resolution passed this week: A condition detrimental to the sound growth of the city, impairs or arrests that growth and is “detrimental to the public safety, morals and public welfare.”
The word has created something of an obstacle between city and county officials who seem to disagree on the definition, at least how it applies to Inverness’ use of it in trying to expand the community redevelopment area (CRA) boundaries.
Inverness City Council member Cabot McBride agrees that confusion is probably at the heart of the matter. Most people have a picture of blight in mind, and it probably resembles beat-up roads, broken windows in homes and a general picture of rot, sort of like Detroit, he said.
But it can be more than that.